How to make a mind map® in 8 steps

Step 1: Start at the center of the pageOur mind focuses on the center of the page. That´s why mindmapping® begins with a word or image that symbolizes what you want to think about placed in the middle of the page.

Step 2: Don´t be serious!

Write down or draw the first things that come up in your mind when you start to think about related issues, persons, object, goals… Put your thoughts around the central thought. These can be everything. Even if they look strange or unimportant.

Step 3: Free associate

As ideas emerge, print one or two word descriptions of the ideas on lines branching from the central focus. Allow the ideas to expand outward into branches and sub- branches. Put down all ideas without judgment or evaluation.

Step 4: Think as fast as you can

Come up with an explosion of ideas. Translate them in words, images, codes or symbols.

Again, everything is possible. Unrelated issues might me relevent later on. Think like you are brainstorming. Otherwise your mind will get stuck like a record in that “unrelated word” groove and you’ll never generate those great ideas.

Step 7: Go, go, go….

Keep your hand moving. If ideas slow down, draw empty lines, and watch your brain automatically find ideas to put on them. Or change colors to reenergize your mind. Stand up and mindmap on an easel pad to generate even more energy.

Step 8: Add relationships and connections

Sometimes you see relationships and connections immediately and you can add sub-branches to a main idea. Sometimes you don’t, so you just connect the ideas to the central focus. Organization can always come later; the first requirement is to get the ideas out of your head and onto the paper.

Mind Map® Laws

These are the brain-reflecting foundation structures of a Mind Map®. The more of them you follow, the more effective your Mind Map®.

* Start in the centre with an image of the topic, using at least 3 colours.